21 Sep 2017

Extension Gunners is ready to compete in the 2017/2018 season of the BTC premiership.

Speaking at a press conference to unveil a new kit for the Lobatse-based glamour boys in Gaborone this week, general manager, Ian Kebopetswe said his team was aiming to win the premiership tittle and all other cups on offer.

“This year we are turning 55 years as Extension Gunners amid the 120 years of Lobatse and we want to enter the new season recognising and realising that we are a great team.

We were a team well known for our flair of football and we want to bring that back as we age, and we also want to show that we are still young hence our recruitment programme is youth based this year,” he said.

The general manager said they have attracted youthful players who would take the Peleng based team to its glory days.

Kebopetswe also said the team has complied with the club licensing requirements.

“Yes we have made it, we have managed to comply and we have been given a license.

To those of you who were worried we wouldn’t be playing this season, we are compliant,” he said.

He said the team has a running and operational office, a registered youth development team which was also running, and that they have also embarked on a mission to recount and register members countrywide.

He also said plans were underway to bring in a mobile application to ease communication between the team and its stakeholders.

Kebopetswe further said the team’s interaction with Lobatse Town Council has improved conditions and would help draw investors to their side.

The team unveiled two kits to be used in the coming season. The Very Important Pantsula (VIP) jersey will go with a VIP membership card, a club flag, free home games and would not be available for sale to ordinary members.

However, the new blue, black and white jersey with matching white pants would be available to all.

Tsa Gae managing director, Ludo Kemoeng said the limited edition VIP jersey would help raise revenue for the team, saying they were still on their three-year plan to see Extension Gunners winning the league, top 8 cup and being a self-sustaining entity.

Meanwhile, the club also used the press conference to reveal their new signings in the likes of 22-year-old Ugandan international, Francis Olaki, Odirile Marumo, Thapelo Tsatsilebe and Onalethata Khuta all from Queens Happy Hearts.

Emmanuel Mokwena from Notwane, Modibedi Motlhamme from Sharps, Thomas Manyelela from Bonto FC and 20-year-old Michael Tinye from Maruapula Hungry Leopards.

On whether the team was compromising quality by signing youthful inexperienced players, the general manager said they were bringing in fresh talent which matched that of any good player in the premiership.

“We managed to attract a 17-year-old Ugandan international who has been playing for the national team, and that is the young fresh quality we are talking about,” he said. Ends